Social Worker, Black Justice Navigator Project

Salary: $35.99 per hour

POSITION TITLE:Social Worker

DEPARTMENT:Culturally Appropriate Counselling

AFFILIATION:Unionized Position

LOCATION:Headquarters, ON

HOURS:Mon-Fri, 9am to 5pm

EXTENDED HOURS:Evenings/ weekends as required for sessions and outreach and facilitation of programs

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Tropicana Community Services, a Toronto-based multiservice organization, provides all youth, newcomers, people of Black and Caribbean heritage and others in need with opportunities and alternatives that lead to success and positive life choices. Our mission is achieved through culturally appropriate programs such as counselling, childcare, educational, and employment services and youth development.

TCSMental Health & Wellness Programprovides culturally sensitive clinical counselling to children, youth, adults, and seniors, especially from the Black, African, and Caribbean communities, to address challenges that may be having significant impacts on various aspects of their lives. Services aim to engage often hard-to-reach clients and work collaboratively with families to develop treatment plans that manage risky behaviours, build on strengths, and facilitate pro-social opportunities for improved outcomes. Using a client-centered anti-Black racism lens, clients are supported to achieve their goals through individual and family counselling and/or group and workshop facilitation including our Youth Mentorship, Stop Now and Plan (SNAP), Success through Aggression Replacement Training (START), and Parenting Together programs.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Social Worker for the Aya Black Justice Navigator Project will deliver culturally responsive education, advocacy, and direct support services to Black, African, and Caribbean participants, ages 19+ years, to raise their awareness, knowledge, understanding, and ability to navigate the intricacies of the criminal justice system.

The Aya Black Justice Navigator Project provides culturally grounded navigation, advocacy, legal education, and co-ordinated referrals, while contributing to program evaluation, policy learning, and justice system transformation.

Project Objectives:

• Improve access to justice for Black individuals and families;
• Address systemic anti-Black racism and overrepresentation of Black people in the justice system;
• Strengthen community-based, culturally responsive justice solutions; and
• Support evidence-informed innovation, data collection, and systems change.

We hope to provide individualized session navigation, group sessions, and skill-building workshops, will enable participants to gain the knowledge and confidence to articulate their circumstances, identify available community and institutional resources, and develop and implement action plans to address personal and systemic barriers. And in hopes to:

1. Enhance fairnesswithin Canadas criminal justice system.
2. Increase knowledge and awarenessamong Black communities about legal rights and system navigation.
3. Empower Black communities are equipped to self-advocate.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Develop Project Resources and Promotional Materials:

• Create informational materials on legal rights, court processes, and available resources.

Community Engagement Strategy:

• Partnerships with Legal Aid organizations, service professionals, community groups, and advocacy networks and other relevant referral sources.
• Represent TCS by participating in relevant service committees and networks.

Project Implementation:

• System Navigation Support: Provide Gender-based Analysis Plus one-on-one sessions to assist clients with understanding legal processes including steps to be taken to resolve the challenges encountered in their situation.
• • Ensure all project content and activities comply with relevant legislation, company policies and procedures, and stakeholder requirements.
• Information, Awareness & Capacity Building Sessions: Facilitate monthly Gender-based Analysis Plus workshops to educate clients (laws, legal rights/obligations, justice system structure/processes, resources/supports, and pro-social skills training).
• Court Preparation Assistance: Conduct Gender-based Analysis Plus court tours, life-skills training, and accompaniment during court appearances.
• Advocacy & System Collaboration: Provide Gender-based Analysis Plus delivery of:
• • Advocacy with court officials to ensure that the legal professionals representing Black, African, and Caribbean individuals are utilizing the best legal strategies
  • Emotional support and accompaniment for affected individuals.
  • Facilitation of referrals to clinical counselling participants can receive support to identify and address psycho-social factors that exacerbate their legal situation.
• Referral Network Development: Establish a robust referral system to relevant resources including legal, social, and mental health.

Project Evaluation & Reporting

• Impact Assessment: Collect data on client outcomes, project reach, and stakeholder feedback.
  • Analyze data to identify project challenges and opportunities.
  • Develop recommendations for project improvement and continuation.
• Addressing Systemic Issues: Compile case studies of concerns relating to systemic anti-Black racism and produce legal arguments to the intersection points within the criminal justice system.
• Reporting & Sustainability Planning: Produce and disseminate a comprehensive report with lessons learned and recommendations.
  • Share data driven evidence of impact to support continuation of expansion with community partners and stakeholders.

Supervision

• Recruit, orient, onboard, and train Social Work students in coordination with HR.
• Conduct outreach to educational institutions to promote the program and recruit student placements.
• Guide learning plan development, coordinate work, and provide weekly supervision, performance feedback, and evaluation for Social Work students.
• Maintain communication with educational liaisons to ensure program alignment.
  

Administration:

• Maintain accurate client and data records, prepare regular reports and statistics (weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually), and present updates at staff and relevant meetings.
• Develop and manage a database of social service professionals from Black and Caribbean communities for referrals and case conferencing.

Financial:

• Monitor and manage budgets, prepare requisitions, and reconcile receipts for the project.

Health & Safety

• Adhere to all Health and Safety regulations and Tropicana Community Services policies and procedures, and ensure the safety of Social Work students and service users.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree in Social Work with experience counselling individuals and families from Black, African, and Caribbean communities.
• Current registration in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).
• Minimum 2 years experience developing and facilitating programs for youth and families from Black, African, and Caribbean communities.
• Valid police clearance with satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Check.
• Experience supporting Black, African, and Caribbean communities using anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approaches.
• Experience providing counselling, crisis intervention, and group facilitation using approaches such as CBT, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Systems, Attachment, Feminist approaches, Aggression Replacement Training, and Transtheoretical Model.
• Strong knowledge of the Canadian justice system, systemic anti-Black racism, and social determinants of criminalization.
• Understanding of trauma and attachment, particularly in relation to gender-based violence.
• Proven advocacy, communication, and relationship-management skills with justice system and community stakeholders.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality, and accurate documentation.
• Strong time-management, organization, and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.

BONUS/ PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Lived experience of the Black, African & Caribbean culture, in particular, understanding of anti-Black racism issues.
• Proven time-management, organization, engagement, and sustainability
• Ability to work well in a team setting and with minimal supervision
• Demonstrated initiative, enthusiasm, creativity, versatility, adaptability, and ability to engage people of all ages.
• Excellent facilitation skills with children, youth, adults, and seniors.
• Bilingualism (French) is an asset.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Group Benefits Plan with Extended Healthcare and Dental Benefits
• Options for company-matched RRSP programs
• Career growth and development opportunities
• A chance to play an active role in giving back to your community
• Employee Assistance Program

Although we appreciate each application, only those candidates being considered for the position will be contacted.

Tropicana Community Services commits to promoting inclusion, diversity, equity and access (IDEA) through its information and support, advocacy, programming, internal policies, and governance structures. Tropicana Community Services will aim to ensure that our staff reflect the experience, skills and diversity of the communities we serve and create an inclusive, barrier-free work environment, beginning with the recruitment process. If you have restrictions that need to be accommodated to fully participate in any phase of the recruitment process please contact Human resources. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.